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hobbithopeful's review against another edition
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
2.0
Thank you Penguin for this ARC
Great premise, very poor execution that made little to no sense, lacking any emotional impact and feeling unfinished.
I was so excited to read this, it checks all my book boxes. BIPOC mc? Check. Queer? Check. Issues of racism? Check Check. Told in verse? Check.
Just when we are introduced to the characters and get to see a horrible situation happen at Cerulean's school, there is an accident with their Father, who ends up bedridden and heavily injured. You might think, hey this is where we get to connect with the characters more and see what is going on. Especially with the pile of past due bills on the table. Nope they just leave? Ditches their girlfriend, their friends, their loving family? And then there's a time skip and it's years later and we just see other people's povs? There was no emotional impact except for confusion. You don't have any time to connect to the characters or even really form an attachment to them. It's mentioned so many times how loving their family is, and yet they leave. It just feels incredibly unfinished and didn't make any sense at all plot or character wise. Maybe if we had gotten more time to get to know and care about the characters, then it would have had a greater impact. If anything the actions just made me confused, and I just didn't understand why the book just ended. I wasn't in a place of wanting to read more, I just was so confused by how the story went. It truly feels unfinished. If the book was twice as long and gave us time to at least know Cerulean and maybe to give more foreshadowing I would have understood it more.
As it stands this is such a great premise, but a book that I am truly surprised to see getting published.
(Listen and I feel entirely less crazy reading all the reviews who share the same mindset!)
I would not recommend this book. At this time I wouldn't read anything else by Candice Iloh either.
If you are looking for a good BIPOC queer verse book I recommend [book:The Black Flamingo|41020406]
Great premise, very poor execution that made little to no sense, lacking any emotional impact and feeling unfinished.
I was so excited to read this, it checks all my book boxes. BIPOC mc? Check. Queer? Check. Issues of racism? Check Check. Told in verse? Check.
Just when we are introduced to the characters and get to see a horrible situation happen at Cerulean's school, there is an
As it stands this is such a great premise, but a book that I am truly surprised to see getting published.
(Listen and I feel entirely less crazy reading all the reviews who share the same mindset!)
I would not recommend this book. At this time I wouldn't read anything else by Candice Iloh either.
If you are looking for a good BIPOC queer verse book I recommend [book:The Black Flamingo|41020406]
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and Abandonment
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail
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